Fri.-Sat., July 8-9: Old 97′s double the fun

Texas alt-country favorites Old 97’s clearly have a good relationship with Music City. It’s been barely half a year since the group last breezed through town, and this time it’s holding a two-night residency — a kudos-deserving feat for touring bands in any league — at Mercy Lounge.

Joining the group on its current U.S. jaunt are Nashville Southern-garage punks Those Darlins (whose “Red Light Love” provides the soundtrack for a currently ubiquitous Kia TV commercial) and Texas young gun Robert Ellis.

Rowdy rockers are particularly fitting openers for Old 97’s these days: It has just released The Grand Theatre, Vol. 2: the second in a series of studio albums seeking to reproduce a bit of the raw, raucous energy of the band’s concerts.

All three acts perform on both shows, which take place at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Mercy Lounge (1 Cannery Row, 251-3020). $20.